Signal switch



Sept. 20, 1932. w. J. PORTER SIGNAL SWITCH Filed April 24. 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Miami ALL-$371 welj orferzlw lttowua Sept. 20, 1932. w,PORTER 1,877,963

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed April 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WJPor/er 3 Gnowwo.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 'WILLIAM J. PORTER, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEEPATENT OFFICE SIGNAL swrron Application flied April 24,

This invention relates to a signal switch for use primarily withdirection signals on motor vehicles whereby a driver can indicate topersons behind the vehicle, in what direction he intends to turn.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel form of switch to beassembled with the steering post, it being possible for the driverreadily to throw a switch lever or the like so as to illuminate a signor indicator.

Another object is to provide a means controlled by the rotation of thesteering wheel for returning the switch to its initial or normalposition while the car is being turned in the indicated direction,thereby to turn off the indicating light.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of a steering post showing thesteering wheel thereon and the controlling switch assembled with thepost.

Figure 2 is a section through the switch on line 2-2, Figure 1, theattaching collar being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section online 4-4, Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a contact used inthe audible alarm circuit.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the apparatus.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a yokehaving outstanding terminals 2 and mounted on this yoke is a base 3 ofinsulation, the same being attached to the yoke in any suitable manner,as by means of screw 4. Base 3 is adapted to fit in the end of aremovable housing 5, there being springs 6 carried by base 3 which press1929. Serial No. 357,783.

outwardly against the walls of the housing and hold the base assembledtherewith.

A bracket 7 is mounted on the base and supports a switch lever 8 one endof which projects through a slot 9 in the housing. The f other end ofthe lever has an arm 10 from i which is extended a contact finger 11.

A forked contact 12 can be mounted on base 3 in the path of finger 11and supported between this finger and contact 12 is a contact plate 13supported in an inclined positionby a resilient wire 14 upstanding fromthe base. Contact plate 13 is so located as to be engaged and shiftedlaterally byfinger '11 as it moves from the full line position in Figure2 to the dotted line position. Switch lever 8 is adapted to be heldyieldingly with finger 11 in either of the two positions indicated inFigure 2, a spring 15 being provided for this purpose. 5 .110

Two switch structures such as described are to beused. These are placedastride diametrically opposed portions of the steering post P and theextensions 2 are adapted to be drawn togetherby screws 16 or the like soasfi to cause the yokes to bind on the post. The switch mechanism in onehousing5"is disposed oppositely to the switch mechanism in the otherhousing so that when the switches are open the levers 8 thereof willboth extend fi in the same direction.

A suitably constructed indicator is adapted to be located at any pointor points desired upon the back portion of the vehicle. If desired, andas shown in Figure 6, this indi- P cator can include a housing 17divided into a central compartment 18, and end compart-- ments 19 and20. The word Turn can be arranged on the rear surfaceof the middlecompartment 18 so as to be illuminated at 5'1? will and the othercompartments may be provided with the words Left and Right respectively.A lamp 21 may be located in compartment 19, a lamp 22 in compartment 18,and a lamp 23 in compartment 20.

The switch levers 8 or, rather, the fingers 11 thereof are electricallyconnected to one side of a circuit as shown in Figure 6. The yieldlnglysupported contacts 13 are electrically connected to an audible signalcircuit 24.

The contact 12 at the right of the steering post is electricallyconnected in series to the lamps 23 and 22 while the contact 12 at theleft of the steering post is electrically connected in series to thelamps 21 and 22.

The steering wheel V has oppositely positioned tripping members 25 and26 rotatable therewith, the member 25 being so located as to engage andshift the left-hand switch lever 8 when wheel W is turned to the leftwhile the member 26 can engage and shift the right-hand lever 8 when thewheel WV is turned to the right. Normally levers 8 are out of the pathsof the members 25 and 26 as shown in Figure 1 and by full lines inFigure 2.

\Vhen it is desired to make a right-hand turn the driver presses againstthe switch lever 8 at the right of the steering post so that it assumesa position in the path of tripping member 26. At the same time finger 11slides along and deflects the contact plate 13 and subsequently engagesthe contact 12. This produces two successive operations, first, themomentary sounding of the audible signal, and second, the lighting ofthe lamps 23 and 22. Thus persons back of the vehicle will be warned bythe audible signal and then advised that a right turn is to be made. Asthe driver turns to the right the tripping member 26 moves toward andfinally comes against the switch lever in the path thereof and pushes itfrom the dotted line position to the full line position illustrated inFigure 2.

IVhen a left turn is to be made the same operation is followed with theexception that the left-hand lever 8 is pushed forwardly to sound theaudible alarm and light the lamps 21 and 22 following which the lever ispressed back to normal position and the circuit broken by movement ofthe member 25 against the lever.

It is not essential that an audible signal be used. Obviously, theswitch housing can be constructed in other ways and can be built on toor into the steering post. The tripping members can be carried by thewheel hub as shown or can extend downwardly from the wheel. In fact,various modifications of the structure can be made without modifying thedescribed operation. Likewise the signal lamps can be located at variousplaces on the vehicle and instead of being located in a single housingcan be arranged in two or more housings. Furthermore, the figures ofarrows pointing to the right and left respectively can be used in lieuof the words Right and Left, or any other suitable direction-indi catingsigns can be used with the housing 17 What is claimed is:

The combination with the steering post and steering wheel of a vehicle,of signal controlling means located entirely outside of the post,including a housing detachably clamped to the post, a base of insulatingmaterial within the housing, a forked contact on the base, an inclinedcontact yieldingly supported above the forked contact, a hand operatedlever fulcrumed in the housing, one end thereof being extended throughand movable in a wall of the housing for actuation by the operator, aspring for holding the lever in either of two extreme positions, amember movable with the lever for successively engaging and deflectingthe yieldingly supported contact and moving into engagement with theforked contact thereby to successively close two different circuits, andmeans actuated by the rotation of the wheel for engaging said lever andreturning it and the part connected thereto to their normal positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature. WILLIAM J. PORTER.

